Chapter 173: Chapter 173 New start.

After the uproar the girls had caused inside the room. The three of them settle down in the room where Soma is staying in bed. Hina and Xiao Lian sat on the chair from Soma's left side facing the window, seeing Soma skilfully peel off the apples that Hina brought with her. MvLeMpYr-chapter

With a steady hand and swirling Apple, Soma cut off the skin thinly until the apple body was exposed. He cut the apple into eight pieces and put it on the plate.

"I'm going to take one".

Soma took one slice of the apple and placed it in his mouth, the crisp texture breaking with a satisfying crunch. Then, a sweet, tangy juice flowed onto his tongue, making his face loosened in a smile as he savored the flavor. Then, one after another, Soma ate the remaining pieces before he turned his gaze to the girls.

"Thanks for the apple, Hina".

"No problem. Are you really fine?".

"Yes, as you can see, I am full of health".

"...Thank God then, I'm worried because you didn't open your eyes for a month".

The comment from Xiao Lian made Soma's face turn stiff. His rigid head slightly turned his gaze to Xiao Lian before Hina, ensuring his hearing sense was working.

"A month?".

Hina and Xiao Lian nodded their heads as if to confirm his curiosity. Soma slapped his face as he exhaled his breath, now realizing why his body was still all over the place earlier when he woke up.

Soma looked toward his right palm, clenching it several times as the memories from that time replayed back. He is using not just Martial Saint power but also The Devil's power to help him enhance his body in defeating his own copy.

At that time, he still vividly remembers the excruciating agony his body had to endure to execute his last attack that drained his soul. But to think the backlashes of that was for him to be unconscious for a month.

Soma leaned his back toward the bed with a creaking sound. He exhaled as he remembered something. Soma opened his status to see if there was another change, but sadly, there was none.

"Right, how about the school?".

The two girls exchanged looks before Hina was the one who opened her mouth.

"Because of the uproar that the Messenger Gods caused. The school was decided to be delayed for a month, and every student, including their parents' accommodation, will be paid in the academy's name".

"I see".

"...Mm, they did this as an apology".

"Why, though? The Academy was not the one at fault. This was God's fault".

The atmosphere in the room dropped as Hina and Xiao Lian looked at Soma in horror for blaming the Gods so casually. As true residents in this world, they couldn't careless about the things Soma had done. Because they believed in the existence of God, they couldn't be helped to react like that, but that thing was not applied to Soma.

Soma, in his previous life, was not a religious person in the beginning. Instead, rather than relying on spiritual beings who know where their help will come. Soma chose to do it and believe in himself, for everything he does was for his own.

"Soma, I think you shouldn't say that".

"Hm, you will get punished".

"Whatever. So you said I was unconscious for a month, right? So when will school start?".

""Tomorrow"".

"So, I barely made it. Fuu, I'm glad".

The three of them who gathered inside the hospital room start to spend their time deepening their relationship as friends, while sometimes the room gets tense because of the two girls who banter toward each other's throats. But it was enjoyable as Soma looked at them with a smile on his face. Indeed, his second awakening in the hospital was something memorable.

"No daily quest today, huh?". Soma muttered in his heart.

***

In front of him stood a majestic towering wall that stretched to each side with its pristine white color built with a reinforced material mixed between human and dungeon technology. Making it was impenetrable even since it was built a hundred years ago.

Two gates that represent the new journey for the young cub leaving their parents' side were now filled with enthusiasm and slight worry. The front gate of the academy was bustling with people, and many of them were from the seniors, who also received a month's vacation because of the event that unfolded in the entrance ceremony.

Different from the senior whose head held high walking toward the building that nurtured them for the past years. Meanwhile, the first-year students slightly had a heavy expression on their faces as they separated themselves from their loved ones.

But, this is where they would continue their journey to achieve their dream, so willingly, they took a step forward despite experiencing something horrible in the entrance ceremony.

Soma and Hina stand side by side while being seen off by The Akabane spouse. He scans his surroundings and finds some of the new first-year students who come to the academy despite their trauma.

However, they also know the event that transpired a month ago became a good slap in the face for those who really want to enter the academy to become renowned awakeners.

"Soma..".

A listless voice caught his ear, making him turn back and see a silver-haired girl wearing the same uniform as them, hoping to their side. She stopped on Soma's right side and then opened her mouth.

"Good morning, Soma, and red hair".

"Good morning, Xiao Lian".

"Good morning, Silver-hair".

As usual, the atmosphere turned tense everywhere the two of them met. However, even though they hated each other outside, deep inside, they respected and recognized each other's strengths.

"The three of you face this way!".

A chirping voice that caught their ears prompted them to turn their back. They saw Hisako with her phone ready and took a perfect shot when the three of them were still caught off guard. With a click of the shutter, a flash appeared before their eyes, stunned them still.

"Mom!". Sёarᴄh the nôvelFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Mm, this is a good photo".

"Mm?! Miss, you don't have to include me".

"What are you saying, Xiao Lian? Of course, you are also included. This is also my thanks for caring for my daughter".

"Mom, what are you talking about?".

"Shut it, girl. I am worried because of your twisted personality in finding a friend. You should feel grateful because Xiao Lian was such a good girl who would accept you the way you are".

Hisako gradually closed her distance from Xiao Lian before grabbing the girl's shoulder, making Xiao Lian's face stiffen, unsure of what to do.

"Xiao Lian, please take care of my daughter".

"...Um, Yes, I will do my best".

"Hehe, Thank you".

"Ah..?!".

Xiao Lian's gaze opened wide as she felt a warm touch on top of her head that caressed her hair gently like her mother. With the sudden warmth on her head, Xiao Lian cast her gaze down while her face was flushed because of the nostalgic feeling it brought along with the pat Hisako had done to her.

"Uuh, What a cute and obedient Girl you are, Xiao Lian, unlike my daughter, who is violent and also cute at the same time"

"...Um, thank you, Miss".

"How could you say that to your own daughter".

"Hisako, it is about time".

"Dear".

Hiroshi, who appeared behind Hina, cast his soft gaze toward the children who were about to step into their new journey. Hina, who was stunned stiff seeing her father figure, cast her gaze down. Her thoughts were in swirling clouds about the thing that happened between them.

"..D-dad".

Heard her daughter for the first time call his name again, making Hiroshi and Hisako stiffen their body as they saw Hina, with a flushed face, holding her head high and facing Hiroshi's gaze head-on.

"...I-iam sorry for what I did, and thank you for always being patient with me. I'm really proud to have a father like you in my life".

"Hina?!".

Hina, who couldn't bear the embarrassment, dropped her gaze down, grabbing Soma's right hand.

"Let's go, Soma".

"Hehe, okay. Then, Mr Hiroshi and Miss Hisako, we will take our leave".

"Wait a moment. This will be the last; you guys stand there".

Hisako, who once again took out her phone, began to instruct Soma and the girls to line up each other while facing the camera with a peace sign in their hand.

"You guys ready. One, two…".

"""Cheers!""".